Entries from December 2008 ↓

Nissan Motor Co. and NEC Corp. will jointly invest about 100 billion yen ($1.1 billion) to bolster production of large-capacity lithium ion batteries for use in automobiles, according to a report in the Monday morning edition of the Nikkei newspaper. Production at a plant in Kanagawa Prefecture, with annual output for about 13,000 vehicles, is expected to be underway this spring, the report said, without citing its source. The firms are also considering factories in the U.S. and Europe to supply local automakers.

Features common to all Japanese Insights:

• Ecological Drive Assist System
• multi-information display
• full-auto air conditioner
• projector-style headlights
• remote-control body-colored external mirrors
• tinted rear windows
• security alarm
• immobilizer (ignition system verifies chip in key)
• 15-inch steel wheels
• solar-heat-reducing/noise-reducing glass
• active front head-rests
• tilt/telescoping steering wheel
• seat-height adjuster
• three rear-seat head rests
• flat-tire repair kit (the new Insight carries no spare tire)

The L model adds:

• high-intensity discharge headlights with auto light control
• turn signals in the external mirrors
• leather steering wheel
• rear speakers
• front/rear arm rests
• variable-speed windshield wiper
• map light and luggage-area light
• driver’s seat back pocket

The LS model adds:

• 16-inch aluminum wheels
• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
• front fog lights
• 7-speed paddle shifters
• sun-shade tinted windshield

Optional accessories:

• navigation system with 7-inch screen and hard disk drive (this system may also display additional fuel economy information and in Japan it may include a TV tuner and ECT, an electronic highway toll payment system)
• Honda smart key system
• side-curtain air bags
• 15-inch aluminum wheel for L class
• High-intensity discharge headlights
• comfort view package plus rear window wiper

Body color options:

• Spectrum while pearl (also a Civic hybrid color)
• Milano red (also a Fit color)
• Premium deep violet pearl (also a Jazz color, but not a US Honda color)
• Crystal black pearl (also an Accord, Civic, and Fit color)
• Polished metal metallic (also an Accord and Civic color)
• Alabaster silver metallic (also an Accord and Civic color)
• Brilliant sky metallic (also a Jazz color, but not a US Honda color)

Interior color options:

• Blue
• Warm gray

Other data:

• Length 4390 mm (172.8 inches)
• Width 1695 mm (66.7 inches)
• Height 1425 mm (56.1 inches)
• Wheelbase 2550 mm (100.4 inches)
• Weight 1180 kilograms (2601.5 lbs)
• Minimum turning radius: 5 meters (16.4 feet)
• Engine type: inline 1339 cc SOHC 4-cylinder
• Engine generates 88 horsepower @5800rpm and 12.3 kgm torque @4500rpm
• IMA motor generates 14 horsepower @1500rpm and 9.4 kgm torque @500rpm
• Japanese 10.15 mode fuel consumption test: 30.0 kilometers per liter (which is greater than 70 mpg, but the EPA tests will return lower numbers; the Toyota Prius rates 35.5 km/l or greater than 83 mpg in this test.)

source:insightman

source:motorspain.com

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s largest automaker, began cutting shifts in India as it slashes output to cope with plunging demand for new autos.

The Indian factory will work in two shifts from today, down from three shifts, company spokeswoman Meeyoung Song said by phone today in Seoul. The move will reduce output at the factory by about 25 percent, she added, without giving details on current production.

Hyundai follows Toyota Motor Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and automakers worldwide in cutting jobs and curtailing output as recession in Europe, Japan, and the U.S. hurts car sales. In India, Hyundai’s car sales fell 26 percent last month to 14,601 units, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.

Seoul-based Hyundai earlier this month said it’s eliminating some temporary staff in India, where it has production capacity of 600,000 vehicles a year.

Output at the carmaker’s U.S., domestic, Chinese and Turkish factories has also been reduced.

source:Bloomberg

By George Gao From:Gasgoo.com

China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) yesterday announced the crash test results of this year’s fourth batch of seven models. The FAW-VW’s New Bora is ranked five stars along with Chery A3, SAIC Roewe 550, Beijing Benz-DaimlerChrysler’s Mercedes-Benz C200.

In the latest auto crash tests of “Chinese New Car Assessment Program” (C-NCAP, like Euro-NCAP), no car model got the top ranking of six stars. In addition to the four models of five stars, BYD F6 got four stars, and Jianghuai Binyue and New Zotye 2008 got three starts. A Hongqi car of FAW is said to have got the top ranking earlier this year.

The test crashes have been conducted in north Chinese city of Tianjin. CATARC official said that the C-NCAP operators this time bought the 21 units of the seven models directly from these brands’ 4S stores or dealerships without the carmakers’ knowledge. Three cars of each model then underwent three crash tests after the exhaust emission and fuel consumption testing. The test results were ranked by the C-NCAP standards.

The center tested 28 models in 2008, bringing the total number of tested domestic models to 65, which came from 90% of the domestic auto manufacturers. The proportion of five-star cars rose from 8.3% in 2006 (when the testing started) to 36% in 2007 and 46% in 2008.

Industry experts said that the five-star models are mostly the high-end vehicle products with better safety configurations and can represent all the products of the same series.

The developing is on ice now,econimic crisis and strong yen made Japanese automaker terrible situation of low-profit so Nissan 1 of giant japanese hold developed next generation Silvia S16,waiting for better economics and power purchasing then they will make it again.

Ford is working on an electric-powered version of its little European Transit Connect delivery van for sale in the United States.

The small commercial van should go on sale in 2010, according to the turnaround plan Ford submitted to Congress.

Ford plans to offer the electric van to commercial customers. Ford is not expected to reveal the vehicle at the North American International Auto show in Detroit next month, as has been reported, but it could debut at the Chicago auto show in February.

Ford plans to begin selling gasoline-powered versions of the roomy little Transit Connect in North America in 2009. Diesel-powered versions are popular commercial vehicles in European cities, where fuel economy and space efficiency are paramount.

Ford has shown concept versions of the Transit Connect customized for wine shops, catering companies, taxis and other uses.

source:Freep.com

Ford President and Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally believes that critics and analysts are too pessimistic with predictions that Ford will need to turn to government funding to make it through the recession.

“Right now, with everything we see … we believe the economy is going to stabilize and the industry will start to recover in 2010, and we think we have sufficient liquidity to make it through this recession,” Mulally told the Free Press.

Almost immediately after General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC struck deals last week to get emergency government loans, industry analysts began predicting that Ford, too, will be forced to borrow from the government by the end of 2009. Several also predict that Ford will be forced to reopen its UAW contract so it can win any concessions from the union that GM and Chrysler gain from the process.

Mulally said analysts are dwelling on worst-case scenarios. Ford foresees the economy bottoming out sometime in the middle of next year, followed by a gradual improvement.

The reason: The concrete set of stimulus actions planned by President-elect Barack Obama will eventually stabilize the economy, Mulally said.

“I think that everybody is trying to figure a worst case as far as the economy,” Mulally said Tuesday. “Those types of assessments are reflecting many people’s thought that we don’t know where the bottom is yet.”

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capture from bestcar magazine